Back to Basics Blog Hop

Scrap365 is getting your scrapping New Year off to a flying start!

This month we are teaming up with Finnabair and her amazing DT from Mixed Media Place!

headerMMP

If you are new to scrapping it can be really overwhelming with the choice of products to use and the host of styles to emulate… The same could be said if you’re experienced!

So Scrap365 HQ has decided that 2014 is the year to get BACK to BASICS!! It doesn’t matter if you have been scrapping for ten years or ten days… You will be sure to learn something new along the way!

Finn has very kindly donated a marvellous prize to either add to your stash or to get you started:

MMP prize 1

MMP prize 2

Please check the Scrap365 blog for a chance to win!

Here’s a list of all participating blogs:

Anai:

Finnabair:

Laura

Marsha <- You are here!

Linda

Tusia

Michelle

Pascale

Riikka

Lisa

Helen

return to Scrap365

Our January Blog Hop is all about layout principles. Ali found this fabulous prompt on Pinterest, courtesy of SuzyQ Scraps. It really sums up the beginnings of every layout:

http://suzyqscraps.com/2013/02/06/10-design-tips-for-visually-pleasing-scrapbook-pages/
http://suzyqscraps.com/2013/02/06/10-design-tips-for-visually-pleasing-scrapbook-pages/

I actually think I use several, if not all of these on every single page I make. I know these are design principles now, but I certainly didn’t know that when I started scrapbooking. Some of these tips I’ve always  applied naturally, without thinking about it much and others I have learned along the way.

For this blog hop I chose one of my favourite go-to layouts to work with: nr. 4 Works-Every-Time.

In the graphic it looks really plain and simple and it is! But you don’t have to stick to one photo/text underneath, although it’s a great way to start.

One step up is stacking the photo on some papers layers, roughly the same size as the photo or… you can do as I did here:

140111_MarshaValk_S365_BlogHop

Create a block of paper (or paint!) in the middle of the page and then place your photo, text and other elements within that block. I swear it really does Work-Every-Time!

I hope you give it a try and I would love it if you link your page in the comments below so I can have a look!

Now hop along to Linda’s blog. I can’t wait to see what she has created!

Sketchbook365: June Sketch Challenge

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I’m sure I’ve mentioned it here before: Scrap365 magazine has a monthly sketch challenge too! It’s called Sketchbook365 and this month it features a wonderful sketch by Birgit Koopsen.

The funny thing is that something about the sketch felt oddly familiar when I went to create something with it. And it wasn’t until I had finished that it occurred to me that Birgit had shown me the original art work a while ago…

It can be seen in the June/July issue of Scrap365 (coming out tomorrow). In fact, it even made the front cover:

cover junjul13

OK, I understand you can’t see it very well on an image this small… Just find yourself a copy and check it out IRL! The techniques used on the lay-out are pretty cool and you may even recognize the people in the photo ;-).

Onto my own project!

Thanks to generous Basic Grey, I got to play with the pretty Basic Grey Knee Highs collection pack for the occasion. I love the colours of this collection, they’re so bright and fun. And although this is a girl themed collection, I think most of the patterns are really versatile and can be used for non girly pages too!

The photo was taken with my iPhone using the Dblcam app (at our local IKEA restaurant). The app needs a little getting used to, so my first attempts were well, interesting…

130517_MV_Sketch365_June

Now go and check out the sketch at Sketchbook365 and play along! It’s definitely fun, there are more than enough ideas there to get you going and you never know: you might even win something!

New issue Scrap365 out now!

The August issue of Scrap365 will hit the stands tomorrow. There’s an article in there about fabric appliqué embellishments that I think you might like. Also: that’s my friend Riikka on the front cover!

For Dutchies: Scrap365 is voor zover ik weet in elk geval te koop bij De Craftorij, Scrapbookdepot, Hobbycompleet De Duif, IMS in Breda.

Kun je ‘m daar niet vinden, dan is de digitale versie misschien een optie. Of bestel ‘m rechtstreeks bij Traplet!

Scrap365 Blog Hop!!!

Hello and welcome!!!

If you are here because of the Scrap365 Blog Hop, you are in the right place! If you just stumbled upon this post and you have no clue to what I’m talking about, you may want to start here: Scrap365 magazine. I promise you won’t be sorry!

I’m very happy and glad that I can finally reveal the big secret that I’ve been keeping for weeks and weeks:

There’s a big chance you have never heard of Scrap365 magazine before… That’s because it’s brand spanking new!!! The first issue will hit the news-stands on November 18th. I know that’s a long wait, but… if you happen to be in London over the weekend, you are in luck, because you can get a sneak peek of the magazine at the Traplet stand (#63) at the Big stamp and scrapbook show at Alexandra Palace! If you aren’t that fortunate, be sure to like Scrap365 on Facebook or follow on Twitter for the latest news!

Now, for those that don’t know me, let me introduce myself:

My name is Marsha and I write to you from a town in the middle of the Netherlands, where I live together with my husband Harold.

I’m a part-time crafter, part-time shop assistant, part-time photographer, part-time graphic designer, part-time housekeeper and part-time cook… who loves to travel, blog, interact with friends on- and off-line and has recently learned to crochet.

Besides being on the contributing team for Scrap365, I am just starting my second term with the design team for myStamp BOX, a wonderful Canadian stamp manufacturer. And, I am also part of the Dutch Dares Design Team, a group of girls that host a fun scrapbook challenge blog. Even though the blog is written in Dutch, we most certainly welcome international entries. Consider yourself invited to join in!

I always have a hard time describing my style… Colours are a big part of it, so are my handwriting and my photos, most times stitching and stamps come into play, but apart from that it can go from really clean and simple, to busy patterned and messy!

Words fail to describe how excited I am to be part of the amazingly talented Scrap365 team. I can’t stop pinching myself! And… it’s getting even more exciting by the minute!!!

Time to visit the next stop on our Blog Hop: Sian Fair. I just have one more thing to say before you leave though: if you leave a comment on ALL of the DT’s blogs AND the Scrap365 blog you have a chance to win a years subscription to Craft Stamper magazine PLUS stamps worth over £20! EDIT: Competition is now closed. Winner is announced here!

So what are you waiting for?! Leave a comment and then… go and see Sian!